Ashley Brown News

The New York Pops orchestra - famous for presenting popular music with a symphony orchestra of the highest quality - celebrates the music of Irving Berlin in a stirring program entitled 'Rags to Ritzes'. Under the baton of guest director Jack Everly, the concert kicks off the orchestra's 29th season with an evening of quintessentially American music.

Today we are featuring the luminescent and golden-voiced Melissa Errico and talking to her all about her sumptuous new album LEGRAND AFFAIR - featuring the music of famed Broadway and Hollywood composer Michel Legrand - and how the labor of love five years in the making has finally come to light with this week's highly-anticipated release of the romantic and moving album. In addition to analyzing the process of putting the project together alongside the legendary Legrand, Errico also shares her thoughtful and passionate insights into the many different worlds inherent in the evocative songs themselves - many with lyrics by Barbra Streisand's constant collaborators, Alan and Marilyn Bergman - and how closely Errico worked with album producers Phil Ramone and Richard Jay-Alexander on perfecting the sound, style, mood and final song list of LEGRAND AFFAIR. Additionally, Errico and I also travel back in time and touch upon her many notable stage appearances over the years - including illustrative comments on her Broadway debut in MY FAIR LADY, as well as starring in HIGH SOCIETY, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, DRACULA, Legrand's own AMOUR, and, most recently, WHITE CHRISTMAS - and she also shares her excitement for the upcoming tenth anniversary reunion concert of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Kennedy Center in 2012, co-starring Raul Esparza. Plus, news on her forthcoming appearance on Patrick Wilson's A GIFTED MAN on CBS and all the details on her charity organization, Bowery Babes, as well as much, much more!

On October 14, 2011 at 8:00pm, The New York Pops orchestra - famous for presenting popular music with a symphony orchestra of the highest quality - celebrates the music of Irving Berlin in a stirring program entitled 'Rags to Ritzes'. Under the baton of guest director Jack Everly, the concert kicks off the orchestra's 29th season with an evening of quintessentially American music.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 2011 BWW Chicago Awards, new facilities for Black Ensemble Theater, Stage 773 and Light Opera Works, plus an overview of year-end Loop musical productions and more...

Performance Now Theatre Company proudly presents Meet Me in St. Louis currently playing through October 16 at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Meet Me in St. Louis is a musical based on 'The Kensington Stories' by Sally Benson and the 1944 MGM motion picture Meet Me in St. Louis. It tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904. Their love and respect for each other is tempered with the genuine humor that can only be generated by such a special family. Memorable musical numbers include The Boy Next Door, A Raving Beauty, The Trolley Song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and the title song, Meet Me in St. Louis.

After the success of our inaugural awards last year, in which Parade and August Osage County won bit, nominations for the 2011 BWW: Los Angeles Awards are now open!

Ronald McDonald House New York provides a temporary 'home-away-from-home' for pediatric cancer patients and their families. The House is a supportive and caring environment which encourages and nurtures the development of child-to-child and parent-to-parent support systems. Ronald McDonald House New York is the largest facility of its type in the world.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will lead the New York Pops and a stellar cast of performers with many Broadway credits in Irving Berlin: From Ragtime to Ritzes at New York's famed Carnegie Hall on Friday, October 14, at 8 p.m.

BEEHIVE: The '60s Musical Sensation will open the Roxy Regional Theatre's 29th Season on Friday, September 16, at 8pm.

On October 14, 2011 at 8:00pm, The New York Pops orchestra - famous for presenting popular music with a symphony orchestra of the highest quality - celebrates the music of Irving Berlin in a stirring program entitled 'Rags to Ritzes'. Under the baton of guest director Jack Everly, the concert kicks off the orchestra's 29th season with an evening of quintessentially American music.

Tony Award-winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman delighted students as their special surprise guests during the Broadway Artists Alliance 2011 Summer Intensive Session One. Shaiman and Wittman lent their talents for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance. Following the Q&A, they led a Song Interpretation master class.

BEEHIVE: The '60s Musical Sensation will open the Roxy Regional Theatre's 29th Season on Friday, September 16, at 8pm.

Tony Award-winning actress Nikki M. James delighted students as their special surprise guest during the Broadway Artists Alliance 2011 Summer Workshop. Ms. James (currently starring the the Tony Award-winning The Book of Mormon) lent her talents for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance.

The Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) is proud to have just completed its 21st consecutive phenomenal three week intensive training program developing key aspects of the Performing Arts and teaching critical life skills for extraordinary theatrical young people on the campus of University of South Florida.

Based on the popular children's book series by P.L. Travers that Disney shaped into an even more renowned movie musical, the stage iteration's current touring company has temporarily taken up residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts in Orange County for an extended four-week limited engagement through August 7. Joyfully engaging but oddly peculiar, this stage version of MARY POPPINS--which weaves peppy elements from the much-beloved Disney movie with less-bouyant passages from Travers' darker, moodier books--is easily likable, but can be challenging to really love.

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City will present the second of several Annie-themed master classes. They are thrilled to announce that Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, will be leading the class on Monday, July 25th. A representative from Telsey & Co., the casting directors for the revival, will also be present to lead an audition technique class. Space is limited, and only a few spots remain available.

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City will present the second of several Annie-themed master classes. They are thrilled to announce that Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, will be leading the class on Monday, July 25th. A representative from Telsey & Co., the casting directors for the revival, will also be present to lead an audition technique class. Space is limited, and only a few spots remain available.

Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry and his family attended Mary Poppins, their first Broadway show, Sunday in New York City. Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) welcomed Petry onstage to an appreciative roar from the matinee audience. Upon Petry's Medal of Honor presentation ceremony on July 12, 2011, he became the second living recipient of the award for actions occurring since the Vietnam War. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Gilbert and Sullivan's popular opera of love between members of different social classes comes to Denver.

The St. Louis Municipal Theatre (Muny), the oldest open-air theater in the United States, has announced their 2011 summer season. Shows include: The Muny premiere of Legally Blonde (June 20 - 26); Kiss Me, Kate (June 27 - July 3); The Little Mermaid (July 6 - 14); Singin' in the Rain (July 18 - 24); Little Shop of Horrors (July 25 - 31); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (August 1 - 7); and Bye Bye Birdie (August 8 - 14).